70 – The Era of Gacha (1) (Revised)
Although there were many titles attached to him, he was particularly known as a blacksmith in the Kingdom of Norba, a country often referred to as the land of great blacksmiths.
Among these blacksmiths, Koman, a dwarf blacksmith with the title of master, was walking towards the Larutania territory until recently.
…With a slightly plump expression.
But that was unavoidable.
Dwarves, as a race, generally did not like to move to other places and preferred to stay in one place and enjoy hammering iron, and Koman was no different.
However, the reason Koman had come all the way from the Kingdom of Norba to the Larutania territory was precisely because of the order he had received from the blacksmith guild to which he belonged, as a recognized master.
‘Check if it’s worth establishing a branch of the blacksmith guild in the Larutania territory.’
Koman sighed.
Of course, the order from the blacksmith guild was not an unreasonable one.
After all, it was Koman himself who had joined the blacksmith guild to receive various supplies.
But now that he was actually receiving work, Koman was feeling extremely annoyed by the situation.
“…Well, if you just listen to the words, there might be some value in establishing a branch, so they must have sent it.”
Of course, the rumors about the Larutania territory, where mana stones are still not widely spread among mercenaries, were known to Koman.
Unlike other territories, it was an area where mana stones were endlessly generated, recently being called the Labyrinth City.
However, Koman thought that there was certainly some exaggeration in the words of those mercenaries.
After all, as far as Koman knew, the Larutania territory was a small territory that had only been rebuilt a few months ago.
Koman, being aware that a territory that only existed as ruins could not transform into a “city” in just a few months, concluded that the Labyrinth City was just a rumor created through the exaggeration of the mercenaries.
After all, mercenaries were the type to enjoy exaggerating.
“Well, if a blacksmith guild is established, who knows what might happen.”
Regardless of Koman’s own pride in the blacksmith guild, if a blacksmith guild were to be established as a branch within the territory, it would bring great benefits to the territory.
Just the fact that a few rare branches were being built in the Norba Kingdom was enough for adventurers and mercenaries to visit the territory in search of the blacksmith guild.
And what’s more?
The fact that a branch of the blacksmith guild is present also meant that the lord could receive the goods of skilled individuals.
…Of course, it might be a bit expensive.
But that was all just a story for when a blacksmith guild was established in the Larutania territory, and Koman naturally did not evaluate the territory carelessly.
“…I heard that the mages’ tower and the mercenary guild might also come.”
That was just a rumor, and Koman, in evaluating the Larutania territory, leaned endlessly towards the side that would benefit the guild.
“No matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t seem like there would be any benefit.”
Koman chuckled and moved on.
And soon, an hour later.
When they arrived at the Larutania territory.
“…?”
Komane unknowingly made a bewildered face.
It’s not surprising, considering that the Rurtania territory that Komane is observing is completely different from the Rurtania territory he knew.
The first thing he noticed upon arrival was the vast wall.
A proper wall made of stone, no less.
Of course, the quality of the stone wasn’t so good, and it didn’t seem magically enchanted or refined, but he couldn’t help but commend it.
After all, the reconstruction of Rurtania territory was just a few months in.
That’s why, after having his identity hastily checked by the guards, Komane entered with a surprised look on his face, passing the second wall.
“!”
From there, he had no choice but to be shocked again.
Right past the second wall, all that stood was a massive empty lot with no construction going on. However, two buildings instantly came into his eyesight.
Well, to be exact, they were not even buildings yet.
On the lot that Komane was looking at, various types of materials were just starting to arrive.
However, the real reason Komane was astonished was due to the symbols written in the lot.
“That’s…the emblem of a magic tower and a mercenary guild, isn’t it?”
On the lot where building materials were being stacked, the emblems of a mercenary guild and a magic tower were engraved.
This meant that the rumor that the magic tower guild and the mercenary guild were moving into the Rurtania territory was true.
“…Even if a lot of magic stones are produced, how in the world could this territory accommodate a magic tower and a mercenary guild…?”
Komane momentarily questions the vacant lot, only seeing the two guild plots.
Crossing the second wall and reaching the first, Komane unknowingly stood agape.
“What’s with this crowd?”
The moment Coman entered the first city wall, what greeted him was an overwhelming mass of people.
Numerous people intermingled here and there, with the streets so packed it was hard to move, and the marketplace buzzed with energy.
But among all this, what caught Coman’s eye were the ‘weapons’.
‘…Almost everyone in sight is wearing armor and carrying weapons. Does this mean… most of the people wandering around here are mercenaries…?’
Of course, Coman too had heard rumors.
Rumors that almost all mercenaries from all over the continent have gathered in the Lartania territory.
However, even though he heard it, Coman neither fully believed it, nor had he ever seen so many mercenaries gathered together even when he was in the Norba Kingdom, so he could not help but open his mouth in surprise.
And then.
At the moment he realized the rumors spreading among the mercenaries were true,
‘I guess it was not my place to argue in the first place…’
Seeing thousands of ‘clients’, who are known as mercenaries, walking around, he could not help but give a wry smile.
####
[Your compensation has been paid!]
“Hoo-“
Kim Hyun-woo looked at his reward window with a satisfied expression, straight after completing the labyrinth break for the fifth time in about a day.
[Red Stones: 7,980] [Blue Stones: 9,823] [Gold Coins: 358,843] [Magic Stones: 183,392]
Immediately, he bought a package to maintain his labyrinth city after seeing the red stones, which had only been 480 in the reward window, recharge again, and he smiled.
‘With this, I have bought another month.’
It was a real disappointment to see the 7,980 red stones reduce to 980, but Kim Hyun-woo shook off his regret.
Maintaining the maze was an inevitable element in Kim Hyun Woo’s territory at the moment.
‘I should start preparing for the next step, though.’
Kim Hyun Woo looked at the gold coins.
There were over a million gold coins, but now only 300,000 remained.
In reality, as he continuously exchanged gold for magic stones, his gold coins were depleting in real-time.
‘Though it’s not a loss, per se.’
In the end, all the magic stones that Kim Hyun Woo was purchasing were money, so if he traded with them, the deficits were unavoidable. However, he had no intention of doing so.
‘The more magic stones circulate in the market, the cheaper they’ll become.’
It had only been about a month since the Maze City was established, so there was no immediate depreciation of the magic stones. In the long run, however, it was expected to decline.
More accurately, once the mercenaries began circulating magic stones outside, the price would undoubtedly drop. It was a natural inevitability – the value of goods is fluid, and the value decreases with increasing supply.
‘Anyway, once the magic stones start to spread and their use is established, the price should stabilize according to supply and demand.’
The problem was that Kim Hyun Woo also didn’t know to what extent the value of the magic stones would drop, but it wasn’t a significant concern.
He didn’t know about the lowest class, but Kim Hyun Woo had plenty of ways to control the supply of medium-class magic stones.
In fact, until he reached the tier where medium-class magic stones started to appear, he planned to limit their circulation as much as possible. Instead of selling raw magic stones, he intended to process them.
And it’s not just simple processing.
‘I’ll ensure that it yields at least ten times the profit.’
Kim Hyun Woo gave a swift, subtle smile-
—-
Explorer of the lowest-grade’s magnifying glass.
This is a shabby, low-grade magnifying glass. When used in a labyrinth to focus on a light source, it can randomly obtain items and artifacts.
-Probability Table-
Great Amalgam’s Sword 0.0000001%
Mid-Level Bow 0.000004%
Divine Sword Armor 0.000006%
Owl Bear Transformation Scroll 0.000014%
Kamalani’s Necklace 0.000119%
From Noble mtl dot com
….
…
..
.
Low-grade Potion 15%
Bandage imbued with strength 20%
Potion of Passion 30%
Old Sword 35%
1: 50 red stones.
10: 500 red stones.
[Would you like to purchase? Y/N]
※If you purchase a blueprint from the Blue Merchant, you can craft it yourself.
“No, she thought with a wicked smile.
####
Kim Hyun-woo was smiling at the thought of introducing the worst BM, Arteil’s garbage gacha, when the Absolute of Darkness was near the Lartania territory.
Of course, she hadn’t come to the Lartania territory for any particular reason. Although she was in the middle of ‘cleaning up’ within the Kalan Kingdom, it could also be said that she had just taken her first step.
The reason the Absolute of Darkness returned to the Lartania territory in such a situation was quite absurd; it was simply to see Kim Hyun-woo’s face.
The Absolute of Darkness was aware that what she did was absurd. The distance between the Kalan Kingdom and the Lartania territory was quite far, to say the least. However, after realizing that the ominous dragon was keeping an eye on Kim Hyun-woo, she felt a strange sense of urgency and compromised with herself, thinking, ‘Since there’s nothing to do anyway, why not come?’ It was a somewhat absurd reason, but she came to Lartania with that in mind.
“…Hm.”
…Even thinking about it herself, she knew it was a somewhat ridiculous, self-indulgent excuse, but she was feeling great joy at the fact that she could see Kim Hyun-woo from a distance.
“The leader’s here?”
“Yeah. This artifact is really good.”
“Right? Honestly, I was wondering where I could use an artifact that could sneak into the territory without the lord’s knowledge. I’m lucky to have it here.”
“Yeah.”
If she hadn’t heard Merilda and Ryu talking as they walked toward the window that provided a good view of the lord’s office inside the lord’s castle.
“…”
…Lyn, fundamentally, knew how to be content with what she had.”
However, if one could possess something even greater than what they currently have.
If that something could be not just observed from a distance, but seen from a little closer, the story would change.
“… Hm, hmm…”
The absolute being of darkness appeared before Merilda.
Even Merilda, who was momentarily surprised by the sudden appearance of Lynn, made a puzzled expression.
“That, I also want a bit-“
In response to Lynn’s words, Merilda momentarily wore a blank expression.
Smirk.
“Don’t you dislike it?”
With a smirk, the story continued.